As I walk beneath the moon to Sam and Lee's

The moon this morning as I walked to Sam and Lee's a little before 7 AM. It was a little bit chilly and I was lightly bundled and could definitely feel the cold, but it was a short walk and I enjoyed it. I could hear schoolbuses blowing their horns here and there on all sides of me. I hoped one would drive into camera range, but none did. As to that line across the moon, I see there is a hair lying across my iPhone lens. I think maybe it is the cause.

That's one trouble with an iPhone camera – keeping the lens in good working order as you take it in and out of your linty and dusty pockets.

Text added at 11:33 AM.

Midnight is there to wish Sharene a happy birthday!

Today, Wednesday, November 30, has been Sharene Ahmaogak's birthday and her dog Midnight was there to help her celebrate. So were a lot of people - her dad Savik, her son Little Alan, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and I among them, eating heartily. I had wanted to write more, but I am so exhausted I feel like this phone is going to drop right out of my hand and I'm going to fall asleep right where I sit. So I think I will go to bed now, but I will probably lay awake for a ridiculous amount of time. That's one reason I am so tired, but this post is not about me being tired. Happy birthday Sharene! 

Text added at 11:23 PM. Although I have yet to benefit from it and am still living the Squarespace nightmare, as I explained last night the problem may have been solved, once I can find the time to make the platform switch. So, to save me a little time, from now on I will not note the time I add the text to the photo if that time is less than half-an-hour from when the old defective Squarespace posted the pic.

Young ice covers the near-shore Chukchi Sea

Remember how when I first arrived here nine nights ago there was a layer of slush ice against the shore, reaching maybe 200 yards out into the night, undulating with the breaking surf rolling in from the dark, roiling ocean beyond? This is what it looks like now. The fellow standing by the four wheeler as he looks out over the Chukchi Sea is Harold Nungasuk, brother of the late, great, Whyborn Nungasuk. Harold was thrilled to see all that young ice, essential to the upcoming spring bowhead hunt. A bit late by historical standards but there it is. And that is good news. 

Text added at 4:36 PM.

The Daily School Bus: Morning boarding

Student boards bus this morning. I was going to wait to post until after my coffee break, to see what else I might have to choose from, but then I was reminded that today is teacher inservice day and the students have been released early. 

IPhone: a camera to laugh at

Floyd Davidson had heard I have been coming into Sam and Lee's for breakfast every morning between 6:30 and 7:00 and wanted to talk cameras and photography with me, so he came over at that time but I was not there. I had gone running around elsewhere, but by 8:30 I was pretty hungry and I headed over. There he was, still at Sam and Lee's waiting to talk cameras and show me some of his recent pictures - including some nice shots of Barrow High School band members. He told me all about the Nikons he is using these days, what he likes or dislikes about each.

"This is the camera I have been using lately," I said as I pulled my iPhone out of my pocket and framed him on my screen. He sat there waiting expectantly, as he had misunderstood and thought I was going to show him a picture on my phone of whatever fancy camera I am now using. Then Floyd realized I had I had just taken his picture with my iPhone and it was the camera I was talking about. He burst out laughing. I took another shot. 

When I went to the cash register to pay, Mrs. Kim would not let me. She said someone had paid for me already. She would not say who. Whoever it was, if you read this, quyanaq! It was a truly excellent breakfast - the best since I have arrived. Denver omellette with mushrooms added.

Text added at 11:02 AM.